Lesson 4 - The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Folk, Folk-Rock, Bob Dylan, Simon and Garfunkel
Lesson 4 Questions1. For this writer, The Beatles were the greatest musical group to exist in the 20th century. Much has been written since their break up in 1969. This was expanded in the period following the assassination of John Lennon in December of 1980. The Beatles Anthology television production, subsequent CD and DVD packages, along with new books on the lives and musical contributions of John Lennon, and George Harrison have served to further the explorations of this amazing music group.
According to Friedlander, what elements did the Beatles fuse together to develop their own sound?2. Click on, view and respond to the following video links featuring The Beatles live at Shea Stadium in New York City (1965).Note how we as a concert going society were in our infancy as to how to actually stage a rock concert--the very idea that you could put a band on stage in front of thousands of people with just their little Public Address system and individual guitar amplifiers is crazy--also, these concerts did not have monitor speakers for the band to actually hear what they singing and playing.
Describe and Respond to what you are seeing and hearing in these three videos.Rock Music Lesson 4 The Beatles George Harrison, John Lennon, Ringo Starr, and Paul McCartney Lesson 4 - The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Folk, Folk-Rock, Bob Dylan, Simon and Garfunkel Lesson 4 Questions 1. For this writer, The Beatles were the greatest musical group to exist in the 20th century. Much has been written since their break up in 1969. This was expanded in the period following the assassination of John Lennon in December of 1980. The Beatles Anthology television production, subsequent CD and DVD packages, along with new books on the lives and musical contributions of John Lennon, and George Harrison have served to further the explorations of this amazing music group. According to Friedlander, what elements did the Beatles fuse together to develop their own sound? 2. Click on, view and respond to the following video links featuring The Beatles live at Shea Stadium in New York City (1965). Note how we as a concert going society were in our infancy as to how to actually stage a rock concert--the very idea that you could put a band on stage in front of thousands of people with just their little Public Address system and individual guitar amplifiers is crazy--also, these concerts did not have monitor speakers for the band to actually hear what they singing and playing. Describe and Respond to what you are seeing and hearing in these three videos. a) The Ed Sullivan Introduction and the classic Beatles cover of "Twist and Shout Shea" at Stadium 1965 (Links to an external site.) b) "Baby's In Black" - The Beatles at Shea Stadium 1965 (Links to an external site.) c) "I'm Down" - The Beatles at Shea Stadium 1965 (Links to an external site.) 3. Listen and respond to each of the six Beatles songs below. List the musical characteristics you notice that are prominent for each song. a) Please, Please Me b) Yesterday c) Norwegian Wood d) I'll Be Back e) Taxman f) Tomorrow Never Knows 4. As examples of music from what was labeled as "The British Invasion" listen to the following recordings featuring some great selections and fine individual talent within the respective bands. Describe the musical activity you notice in each of these songs. Are there any musical characteristics that these bands seem to have in common? Conversely, what characteristics do you notice that seem to distinguish each band from the other? a) From Belfast, Northern Ireland a band called Them featuring Van Morrison perform the classic rock tune, "Gloria". b) From Manchester, England The Hollies featuring Graham Nash perform their 1965 hit "Bus Stop". c) From Hertfordshire, England come The Zombies featuring Rod Argent and the classic, "She's Not There". d) From London, The Kinks with brothers Ray and Dave Davies, perform "All Day and All Of The Night". 5. Listen to and describe what you notice in each of the following songs by The Rolling Stones and by Muddy Waters too: a) "2120 South Michigan Avenue" (a collective composition that started as a jam by the entire band--the composer name "Nanker Phelge" is actually a pseudonym for songs composed by the entire band such as this one ) The recording featured Bill Wyman - bass, Brian Jones - harmonica, Charlie Watts - drums, Keith Richards - guitar, Mick Jagger - percussion, and Ian Stewart - organ. 2120 South Michigan Avenue (Links to an external site.) b) "I Can't Be Satisfied" (Waters) original Chess Records recording by Muddy Waters from 1948 I Can't Be Satisfied--Muddy Waters (Links to an external site.) c) "I Can't Be Satisfied" (a Muddy Waters composition) original studio recording by the Rolling Stones from 1964 featuring Vocals: Mick Jagger, Bottleneck Slide Guitar: Brian Jones, Rhythm Guitar: Keith Richards, Bass: Bill Wyman, Drums: Charlie Watts. I Can't Be Satisfied (Links to an external site.) d) "I Can't Be Satisfied" - The Rolling Stones live in 2006 "I Can't Be Satisfied" - The Rolling Stones live in Milan, Italy 2006 (Links to an external site.) 6. What style of music has most influenced the sound of The Rolling Stones? 7. To contrast the previous questions' focus on one particular genre, listen and describe what you notice in each of the following Rolling Stones songs: a) Under My Thumb b) It's All Over Now c) Street Fighting Man d) Ruby Tuesday 8. Of what significance was Andrew Loog Oldham to the Rolling Stones? 9. Beyond its obvious humor, explain the relevance of the following newspaper headline: "WOULD YOU LET YOUR DAUGHTER GO WITH A ROLLING STONE?" What sort of image does this present to the public? 10. According to Friedlander and your own observations from viewing the clip below, describe Mick Jagger's vocal style and on-stage behavior. The Rolling Stones performing "Around and Around" from the TAMI Show 1964 (Links to an external site.) 11. Who was Woody Guthrie? What were his contributions to music history? What were the topics he dealt with in his songs? As you respond to this question listen to and describe Woody's performances of: a) So Long, It's Been Good To Know You and b) This Land Is Your Land (Links to an external site.) 12. Who was Pete Seeger? What impact has he had on the history of music? Listen to, view, and describe what you are seeing and hearing in the clip below of Pete Seeger performing his composition, "Where Have All The Flowers Gone?" "Where Have All The Flowers Gone?" - Pete Seeger (Links to an external site.) 13. What function or purpose did the Pete Seeger-formed ensemble known as The Weavers dedicate themselves to? 14. Listen to the following selections by the Weavers. Which song do you like best? Why? a) Wimoweh b) I've Got A Home In That Rock c) Go Where I Send Thee d) Goodnight Irene - composed by Huddie Ledbetter ("Leadbelly") and John Lomax The Mamas and the Papas John Phillips (left), Cass Elliot (top), Michelle Phillips (bottom), Denny Doherty (right) 15. Listen to California Dreamin' by The Mamas and the Papas. As you listen, list any specific musical styles you happen to recognize as an important characteristics to the song. 16. As principal member of The Lovin' Spoonful, John Sebastian (top left) offered the following contributions to the groups' sound: as composer, player of guitar, autoharp, harmonica, and as lead vocalist. Listen and list the musical characteristics/styles present in the following two songs by The Lovin' Spoonful: a) Do You Believe In Magic? b) Summer In The City Below are videos of the band performing the same songs. These videos are cool to watch as it gives us a chance to actually see who the musicians were, what instruments they played, who the vocalists were, their interaction with each other, etc. The first is from a live performance on November 29, 1965 in Los Angeles, CA. The second is from a television appearance in 1966. Many television shows essentially required rock and pop groups in the 1960's to lip sync to their recordings on live television - that is what you will see in the second video. Notice how well lead singer John Sebastian sings and plays the cool electric keyboard with the reversed colored keys to the actual recording of Summer In The City. a) You Didn't Have To Be So Nice - live in 1965 b) Summer In The City - Lovin Spoonful on television (1966) (Links to an external site.) c) Do You Believe in Magic - live in 1965 17. Name the famous record producer who helped many artists (including many African-Americans who were either being completely ignored or taken advantage of by other producers/labels) in jazz, blues, rhythm and blues, and in rock and roll with an opportunity to sign recording contracts that were equitable. Billie Holiday, Count Basie, Bob Dylan, and Bruce Springsteen are a few who were signed by him. 18. What famous musician was born as Robert Zimmerman? Bob Dylan (1941) 19. What made Bob Dylan stand out from his contemporaries in folk music? Listen to and describe what you notice in"Blowin' In The Wind" - - this timeless anthem, was composed by Bob Dylan in 1962 who was just 20 years old. "Blowin' In The Wind" - Bob Dylan (1962) (Links to an external site.) 20. What was the "musical surprise" that shocked many folk music fans on Dylan's 1965 album, Bringing It All Back Home? 21. Listen and briefly list/describe the musical characteristics and lyric content (main focus/topic or "meaning" behind the words) you hear in each of the following Bob Dylan songs: a) The Times They Are A-Changin' b) Subterranean Homesick Blues c) Positively 4th Street d) Like A Rolling Stone Like A Rolling Stone - from 1965 was most significant in that this record (with its duration of over six minutes) proved to break the standard for top forty AM radio stations' rule of never playing a song over three minutes in length. The Columbia 45 rpm single used very small micro grooves in order to fit it all on one side. Like A Rolling Stone featured a gradual build - the combination of the Dylan's voice increasing in both volume and intensity with the instruments responding to his stimuli (Al Kooper's organ playing), raises the level to create one of the greatest finishes in all popular music history. Enjoy! The Byrds David Crosby, Chris Hillman, Roger McGuinn, Michael Clarke, and Gene Clark 22. Describe the unique sound of the group known as The Byrds. Listen and describe the differences between Dylan's original version of Mr. Tambourine Man and their cover version of the classic song. Which version do you prefer? Why? 23. Listen to the song "For What It's Worth" by the Buffalo Springfield. List and describe the musical characteristics and lyric content of the song. What type (genre/style) of music is this? Buffalo Springfield featured Neil Young and Stephen Stills on guitars and vocals. Stills composed "For What It's Worth". 24. According to Friedlander, what folk-rock band proved that essentially acoustic folk-rock could be effective, moving music? This group's "mellifluous, celestial harmonies" became their stylistic trademark. Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young Stephen Stills, David Crosby, Graham Nash, and Neil Young 25. List the musical characteristics and different styles you hear in the following songs by Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young: a) Carry On b) Teach Your Children c) Woodstock composed by the amazing singer/songwriter Joni Mitchell Joni Mitchell (1943) Amazing composer, singer, and artist - you truly need to explore her music! 26. According to Friedlander, what are some of the topics/subjects included in the songs of the wonderful vocalist, artist, and composer Joni Mitchell? 27. Listen to and describe what you notice in the following songs by Joni Mitchell: a) Morning Morgantown b) Help Me (Links to an external site.) Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel 28. From Friedlander, "Paul Simon was one of the most consistent, high-quality songcrafters of the sixties and seventies, creating two generations of musically and lyrically sophisticated folk-rooted pop-rock music." Listen to and describe what happens in each of these Simon and Garfunkel songs: a) Scarborough Fair/Canticle b) A Simple Desultory Philippic c) 7 O'Clock News/Silent Night d) Homeward Bound e) The Sound